3 minute read
Winter High Tops
Cost £45 Starts at 0700
The days will involve a high top, either a Munro or one of our finer Corbetts, so you will need to have previous hill walking experience. Once the snow gets firm enough for winter tactics to come in to play folk need to have the skills to cope with conditions. Our Intro to Scottish winter skills course is recommended for anyone needing to learn the basics or improve rusty technique. All winter High Tops are weather dependent. If there is a high avalanche risk on the slopes we’re planning to go on to we will change the route or the hill. If storm winds are blowing we may have to take in a shorter, lower hill.
Advertisement
Previous winter walking experience, or completion of a recent winter skills course, is an essential prerequisite for these walks. Beinn Bhuidhe – Bike access
11/12/22
We kick off the winter walking season with a bike and hike up Glen Fyne to tick lonely Beinn Bhuidhe. The bike ride is straightforward and the hill round is short but, in winter conditions, some of the steep ground can be awkward.
Sgorr Gaoith
14.1km with 880 metres of ascent
22/12/22
It’s always nice getting a taste of the high Cairngorms winter experience. This walk up from Glen Feshie is achievable on a winter outing. Giving a good flavour of what the high plateau has to offer – good access, vast arctic upland, and a cracking view from the Munro summit down over the crags to Loch Eanaich.
Ben Vane
10.9km with 920 metres of ascent
08/01/23
This Munro may lack height – coming in at number 280 on the table – but it’s steep and rocky, packing a real punch in winter conditions. Our walk follows the standard route from Inveruglas. This is a good hill to blow away the festive cobwebs on.
An Socach
16km with 700 metres of ascent
19/01/23
On this straightforward outing we tick this eastern Grampian Munro. Beginning at Baddoch we follow the burn on a track up to Coire Fhearneasg where we ascend west up to the shoulder of the east top. From here easy walking takes us west to the summit. Return will be by the same route.
Dreish & Mayar
14km with 930m of ascent
05/02/22
These two Munros sit at the head of Glen Clova and are ascended by going up from adjacent Glen Doll. Good paths lead through forestry to Coire Fee from where we can reach the plateau. An easy round follows before dropping back down Glen Doll and home.
Achnafree Hill & Ben Chonzie
18.1km with 1080 metres of ascent
16/02/23
By doing an anticlockwise round from the Glen Turret dam we get a long walk over relatively easy terrain. The bonus is we get to see the steep backside of Ben Chonzie. Throw in a Corbett summit as well as the Munro and a cheeky wee Corbett Top – this will be a satisfying walk.
Pap of Glencoe & Sgorr na Fiannaidh
8km with 1100 metres of ascent
05/03/23
The Pap, or Sgorr na Ciche, is a well seen landmark. It’s also a Graham and linking it with its Munro neighbour, Sgorr na Fiannaidh, gives a good hill day with great views over to the Aonach Eagach ridge - but without any scrambling. This day, and the next one on the programme, will get anyone doing their Munros but not wanting to scramble a chance to summit therm.
Meall Dearg & Garbh Beinn
9.9km with 1270 metres of ascent
18/03/23
This Munro Corbett combo gets us on to the middle of the Aonach Eagach ridge without any scrambling. Don’t be fooled be the relatively short distance though. The route to the Munro is pathless and there is a lot of ascent over the whole outing.
Beinn Eibhinn, Aonach Beag & Geal-charn – Bike access
30/03/23
Our last walk of the winter season is typically a big one to celebrate the changing of the clocks over to BST. This bike and hike is a long day out in remote country. We cycle the decent track over to the Allt Cam from the Loch Laggan road, then do a circuit of these three high Munros which will probably still very much be in winter condition.
